III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 274 

Expressing sympathy and pledging the support of the Senate and the American people to the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck 

South Asia and caused the severe loss of life and destruction on October 

8, 2005, and pledging immediate United States assistance to save lives 

and help the region recover from this monumental tragedy. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 17, 2005 

Mr. FRIST (for himself, Mr. REID, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. BIDEN, and Mr. 

LUGAR) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing sympathy and pledging the support of the Senate 

and the American people to the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck South Asia and caused 

the severe loss of life and destruction on October 8, 

2005, and pledging immediate United States assistance 

to save lives and help the region recover from this monumental tragedy. 

Whereas on October 8, 2005, at 8:50 am local time, a devastating earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, 

struck parts of Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, causing 

massive loss of life and destruction; 
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•SRES 274 ATS

Whereas it is estimated that more than 39,000 people residing in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the Northwest 

Frontier Province of Pakistan and between 1,000 to 

2,000 people located in Indian-administered Kashmir 

have perished as a result of the earthquake and that tens 

of thousands of others have been injured; 

Whereas the capital city of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, 

Muzaffarabad, located near the epicenter of the earthquake, was one of the worst-affected cities, suffering tens 

of thousands of deaths and widespread destruction 

throughout the city; 

Whereas millions of people throughout the region have been 

left homeless as a result of this earthquake; 

Whereas the earthquake damaged and destroyed sanitation 

systems and hospitals and left thousands of people more 

vulnerable to deadly diseases such as measles and cholera; 

Whereas the Senate and the people of the United States acknowledge with deep sadness that this severe tragedy occurred during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a 

time when Muslims across the world observe a fast during the daylight hours and focus on worship, contemplation, and strengthening family and community ties; 

Whereas the United States immediately deployed material 

and technical assistance to the region, including plastic 

sheeting, blankets, water containers, food, and a United 

States Agency for International Development Disaster 

Assistance Response Team to assess humanitarian needs, 

coordinate assistance from the United States, and provide technical assistance as required; 
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Whereas the Department of Defense immediately dispatched 

8 military helicopters and is providing additional helicopter support to assist in relief and rescue operations in 

remote areas that are largely inaccessible by road; 

Whereas the United States made an initial pledge of 

$50,000,000 in humanitarian assistance to help Pakistan 

cope with its massive relief and recovery needs; 

Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her October 12, 2005, visit to Pakistan, said that the United 

States would support Pakistan over the long-term in the 

Pakistani Government’s efforts to provide assistance to 

the victims of the earthquake and rebuild parts of the 

country devastated by the earthquake; 

Whereas the United Nations launched a $272,000,000 international flash appeal to support recovery efforts; 

Whereas the United Nations estimates that as many as 

2,500,000 people are homeless and 1,000,000 are in need 

of immediate assistance; 

Whereas Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has appealed 

for international assistance and called for more medicine, 

tents, and cargo helicopters; 

Whereas Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared 

the earthquake a ‘‘national calamity’’ and pledged to rebuild the lives of thousands of people in Indian-administered Kashmir affected by the earthquake; 

Whereas during humanitarian crises, such as the earthquake 

that struck South Asia, women and children often become more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and have 

difficulty accessing humanitarian relief; 

Whereas India has begun sending a consignment of 25 tons 

of emergency relief supplies, including medicines, blan-
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kets, tents, and food items, to Islamabad, the first time 

India has provided assistance to Pakistan in over 30 

years; and 

Whereas the recovery and reconstruction of the devastated 

areas will require the concerted leadership of the United 

States working with the governments of the affected 

countries and with the international community: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses its sympathy and support for the 

3 people of South Asia following the devastating earth4 quake that struck Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan 

5 on October 8, 2005, during the Islamic holy month 

6 of Ramadan; 

7 (2) conveys its most sincere condolences to the 

8 families, communities, and governments of the more 

9 than 39,000 people that lost their lives in this ter10 rible natural disaster; 

11 (3) expresses its admiration and full support for 

12 the courageous rescue and relief workers, including 

13 personnel of the United States Agency for Inter14 national Development and the United States mili15 tary, who are saving lives and providing relief and 

16 assistance to those affected by the earthquake; 

17 (4) supports the initial pledge by President 

18 George W. Bush of $50,000,000 in humanitarian as19 sistance, the deployment of United States military 
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1 assets to the region to assist in relief and recovery 

2 efforts, and provision of additional United States as3 sistance necessary to save lives and help the region 

4 recover from this monumental disaster; 

5 (5) commends the ongoing international relief 

6 effort that includes the work of individual countries, 

7 numerous international organizations, and various 

8 relief and nongovernmental entities; 

9 (6) commends the Governments of Pakistan 

10 and India for their cooperation in the common cause 

11 of saving lives and providing humanitarian relief to 

12 people on both sides of the Line of Control; and 

13 (7) encourages further cooperation between 

14 India and Pakistan on relief operations and efforts 

15 to fortify and expand peace and stability in the re16 gion as they cope with the impact of the earthquake 

17 over the next several months and seek to rehabilitate 

18 the lives of those affected. 

Æ